Famous Hamiltonian's: ED Smith

Smith & Sons, Limited Location: Winona, Ontario Ernest D'Israeli SmithThe Canadian segment of the Smith heritage began in 1787 when Silas Smith came to southern Ontario from New Jersey. Based on this initial experience Ernest moved into fruit farming on a larger scale, purchasing 85 acres below the escarpment and adding grapes, apples, and cherries to his list. This marked the beginning of the company which carries Ernest's name. Smith LogoIn 1889 E.D. By taking raw materials and processing them into a product, E.D. The first pure jam to be produced in Canada, it was originally made in the basement of the E.D. Five years later, E.D. Armand (standing, left) and Ernest (with foot on cart)In 1914, Ernest sent his eldest son, Armand, to England to establish a factory to help satisfy the overwhelming demand for jam. Sauce Limited (a food processing company from Britain) which eventually formed into a business relationship. E.D. to choose E.D. acquired Lea & Perrins Limited, giving E.D. Cans of Jam Being Filled by HandAt the end of World War II, the return of soldiers to Canada along with an increased flow of immigrants caused a dramatic increase in the demand for processed food products. The extra funds gained because of this allowed for the E.D. Smith succeeded his father Armand as president of E.D. New, more efficient manufacturing techniques were introduced allowing for new products such as Garden Cocktail vegetable juice and a diet product line. This led to the purchase of Ware Foods Limited, an old Hamilton-based food processing company which made products for the restaurant trade. The company had diversified so much over the past ten years that by 1986 jam, a staple product initially, had become one of its lowest sellers. Llewellyn Smith Holding a Bottle of Garden CocktailBy 1989 the company could no longer financially support its wide product range and decided to focus on sauces and fruit products. This meant selling its Garden Cocktail vegetable juice to Cadbury Schweppes Canada Incorporated even though that product was its strongest seller. bought the Canadian jam, marmalade, and syrup business of Campbell Soup Company Limited and the following year it began making sauces for President's Choice.